Hydraulic tank assembly for a water closet

ABSTRACT

A HYDRAULIC ASSEMBLY FOR FILLING AND RAPIDLY DISCHARGING A LIQUID FROM A HERMETICALLY SEALED TANK. VERTICALLY POSITIONED IN THE TANK IS A CHUTE HAVING AN OPEN LOWER END AND A CLOSED UPPER END AND HAVING AN APERTURE OPENING INTO THE LOWER PORTION OF THE TANK. A VALVE SEAT EXTENDS AROUND THE INNER PERIPHERY OF THE CHUTE POSITIONED BELOW THIS APERTURE, WHILE POSITIONED WITHIN THE CHUTE IS A VALVE HEAD WITH A STEM. THE VALVE HEAD IS CAPABLE OF VERTICAL MOVEMENT FROM AN OPEN POSITION ABOVE THE APERTURE TO A CLOSED POSITION IN SEALED ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SEAT. ON THE VALVE STEM IS A ROLLING DIAPHRAGM DISPOSED FOR VERTICAL MOVEMENT IN THE CHUTE. MANUAL MEANS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE STEM FOR MOVING THE VALVE HEAD FROM THE CLOSED TO THE OPEN POSITION, AND SPRING MEANS, NORMALLY RESISTING UPWARD MOVEMENT OF THE VALVE HEAD WHEN   THE VALVE HEAD IS SEATED, ARE DISPOSED ABOVE THE ROLLING DIAPHRAGM AROUND SAID STEM. THERE IS ALSO AN AIR VENT AND CHECK VALVE PASSING THROUGH THE TANK. THE CHECK VALVE MOVES TO A CLOSED POSITION WHEN LIQUID IN THE TANK RISES TO A PREDETERMINED LEVEL AND FALLING TO OPEN THE VENT TO THE ATMOSPHERE WHEN LIQUID FALLS BELOW THIS LEVEL. PRESSURIZED WATER IS SUPPLIED INTO THE TANK BY AN INLET CONDUIT. OPERATION OF THE MANUAL MEANS WILL OPEN THE VALVE HEAD, FORCING THE LIQUID TO FLOW THROUGH THE APERTURE AND OUTWARDS FROM THE CYLINDER, THE FLOW THEREOF BEING AUGMENTED BY COMPRESSED AIR PRESSURE ACTING TO RAPIDLY FORCE LIQUID THROUGH THE APERTURE AND OUT OF THE CYLINDER.

Sept. 20, 1971 .1. w. GIBBS ETAL HYDRAULIC TANK ASSEMBLY FOR A WATER CLOSET Filed March 23 1970 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 1w .2 T r i IJ x 5 5 R m M N@%% m $5 m W2 ML. W

ww w Sept. 20, 1971 J. w. GIBBS ETAL HYDRAULIC TANK ASSEMBLY FOR A WATER CLOSET Filed March 23 1970 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l/VVE/U TOR r/H/WES a1. /555 JOHN L. 6/558 United States. Patent Oficc 3,605,125 Patented Sept. 20, 1971 US. Cl. 426 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A hydraulic assembly for filling and rapidly discharging a liquid from a hermetically sealed tank. Vertically positioned in the tank is a chute having an open lower end and a closed upper end and having an aperture opening into the lower portion of the tank. A valve seat extends around the inner periphery of the chute positioned below this aperture, while positioned within the chute is a valve head with a stem. The valve head is capable of vertical movement from an open position above the aperture to a closed position in sealed engagement with the seat. On the valve stem is a rolling diaphragm disposed for vertical movement in the chute. Manual means are associated with the stem for moving the valve head from the closed to the open position, and spring means, normally resisting upward movement of the valve head when the valve head is seated, are disposed above the rolling diaphragm around said stern. There is also an air vent and check valve passing through the tank. The check valve moves to a closed position when liquid in the tank rises to a predetermined level and falling to open the vent to the atmosphere when liquid falls below this level. Pressurized water is supplied into the tank by an inlet conduit. Operation of the manual means will open the valve head, forcing the liquid to flow through the aperture and outwards from the cylinder, theflow thereof being augmented by compressed air pressure acting to rapidly force liquid through the aperture and out of the cylinder.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a water flushing assembly and more particularly to a small compact water flushing assembly for rapidly discharging a large quantity of water as a slug of water under great pressure.

THE PRIOR ART Prior flushing apparatus commonly used to flush toilets depended upon the gravitation of water from a tank open to the atmosphere by manually opening a large diameter valve, commonly called a Fuller Ball, and refilling the tankwith pressurized water under the control of an inlet valve operated by a float means. This form of flush apparatus is wasteful of water and not always effective in rapidly forcefully flushing and cleaning the toilet bowl.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Generally speaking, the present invention contemplates a hydraulic assembly for filling and rapidly discharging a liquid from a hermetically sealed tank. Vertically positioned in relation to the tank is a chute having an open lower end and a closed upper end, and having an aperture in the side wall thereof opening into the lower portion of the tank to provide a water passage to said open lower end. A valve seat extends around the inner periphery of the chute positioned below this aperture, while positioned Within the chute is a valve head with a coaxial upstanding stem. The valve head is capable of vertical movement from an open position above the aperture to a closed position with the head in sealed engagement with the seat. On the valve stem is a rolling diaphragm disposed for vertical movement in the chute from a downward position above the aperture to a predetermined upper position.

Manual means are operatively associated with the stem for moving the valve head from the closed to the open position; and, spring means, normally resisting upward movement of the valve head when the valve head is seated are disposed above the rolling diaphragm around said stem. There is also an air vent and check valve passing through the upper portion of the tank with a valve seat above the check valve. The check valve moves to a closed position when liquid in the tank rises to a predetermined level, falling by gravity to open the vent to the atmosphere when liquid falls below this level. Pressurized water is supplied into the tank by an inlet conduit. Operation of the manual means will open the valve head, forcing the liquid to flow through the aperture and outwards from said cylinder, the flow thereof being augmented by compressed-air pressure acting to rapidly force liquid through the aperture and out of the cylinder.

The invention as well as the objects and advantages thereof will become more apparent from the following detailed description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a longitudinal side view partly cut away showing the water flushing tank assembly contemplated herein;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the tank assembly shown in FIG. 1, also partly in section showing constructional details:

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view corresponding generally to a portion of the arrangement which is depicted in FIG. 1 illustrating inner components of the flushing tank assembly contemplated herein, the view being at a time period when there is no water in the tank;

FIG. 4 shows the same view after flushing tank assembly components illustrated in FIG. 3 at the time period when water is first allowed into the tank;

FIG. 5 presents the same view of the flushing tank assembly components shown in FIG. 4 but when water is rising in the tank;

FIG. 6 repeats the same view of the flushing tank assembly components presented in FIG. 5 at the time when the tank is full of water; and,

FIG. 7 again depicts these same components in the same view, but when the water in the tank is delivered out of the tank as a forceful slug of water.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The water flushing tank assembly 8 contemplated herein is shown mounted within a conventional toilet flush tank. The assembly has a hermetically sealed tank 10 which may be a rectangular box with an upper cut away portion 11. The upper cut away portion 11 is likewise in the form of a rectangular box. With this construction there is a lower box portion 12 and an upper box portion 14. There is also an intermediate roof or platform 15 defined by the cut away portion 11. As can be appreciated when studying FIG. 1, this construction, together with the added components shown, oifers a compact configuration readily adapted to be packed in an outer rectangular box without any part projecting outwards. A filler tube 16 is connected through the upper box portion of one side of the tank 14. The filler tube I16 is connected to a source of pressurized water (across a check valve 15' which is not shown in detail), for example, to an average line pressure in the order of thirty pounds per square inch. An air vent tube 18 extends downwardly Within the tank, best shown in FIG. 3, and is equipped with a 3 seat in the bottom thereof with a check ball 22 loosely captivated in the lower end cage portion of the tube as by a pin 24.

A disc 26, advantageously having an offset aperture therein is coaxially secured to the upper end of tube 18 which is secured and sealed in a vertical relation to tank 14 by a threaded bushing on which a cap 27, also preferably having an offset aperture, is threaded. Adjustment of the cap 27 with respect to disc 26 will vary the effective cross section of the apertures in the disc with respect to the cap and provides an air vent of predetermined selected cross section for the tank 14.

A chute, i.e. cylinder 28 is vertically secured and sealed by well known means through platform 15, as shown. The box or main vessel 10 is adapted to be connected to a plumbing system; for instance, the lower end portion or output end portion of the cylinder 28 may be provided with threads 30 for sealed engagement with a bowl or other means for conducting water therefrom. Cylinder 28 has an aperture 29 for the inflow of water, the mouth or opening 29 being in the lower portion of the vessel or box at about the floor level.

A valve seat 32 is arranged around the inner periphery of the lower portion of the cylinder which is adapted to be engaged by a valve head 34 having a seat engaging surface such as an elastomer rim 36 secured around the periphery of the valve for sealing engagement with the seat 32. The head 34 is secured to a valve stem 38 by suitable means such as the thread means shown. The upper end portion of the cylinder or chute 28 is closed by a cap 40 which is threaded on the upper end of the cylinder and having a vent 42 for the free passage of air into and out of the cylinder. The action of stem 38 is controlled by a spring and rolling diaphragm assembly. The rolling diaphragm includes a piston valve 44 slidably retained within the cylinder 28 and slidably engages a lower valve seat 46 and has a bellows-type or expanding diaphragm 47 in the cylinder at about the midpoint thereof.

Piston valve 44 of the rolling diaphragm assembly normally rests above its lower valve seat 46 riding on the stem 28. A coil compression spring 48 is positioned coaxial with stem 38 within the cylinder 28 and positioned between the upper surface of piston valve 44 and the inside surface of cap 42 for urging piston head 34 in a downward direction against its valve seat. Stem 38 is lifted by a keeper 49. The keeper 49 has a guide arm 50 mounted on platform 15 and disposed above cylinder 28, and, at the top of the guide arm is a guide wheel 52 over which passes a cord 54. Cord 54 is connected to the top of stem 38 at its lower end while the upper end of the cord 54 is connected to a lifting lever 56. The lifting lever 56 is operated by a manual handle 58 journalled through the wall of the tank and connected to the lifting lever. As is apparent from FIG. 1, pressing handle 58 will raise lever 56, pulling cord 54 and lifting stem 38. This action will raise valve head 34 off its valve seat 32. The top of stem 28 to which cord 54 is connected is threaded and has an adjustable retaining nut 60'. Fastened to the top of closure cap 40 and held by retaining nut 60 is an outwardly biased weak spring 62. This spring will initially maintain valve head 34 off its seat 32.

From the foregoing explanation and the drawings, it is clear that cylinder 28 extends upwards a much shorter distance than the top of upper box portion, since it extends only to platform 15.

OPERATION OF THE INVENTION In the time period shown in FIG. 3, the tank 14 has just been emptied. Valve head 34 is not on its seat 32 since weak spring *62 is holding stem 28 up by bolt 60 preventing the valve from engaging the seat. Water has fallen below the level of check ball 22 so that the ball has fallen down on pin 24. Air is entering the tank through the apertures in the disc 26 and cap 27. The little water remaining in the tank is flowing out of cylinder 28 through inflow aperture 29. Meanwhile, water is entering the tank through filler pipe 16, and the quantity of water entering the tank is greater than the quantity leaving the tank so that water rises in the tank as shown in FIG. 4. The weight of the water on valve head 34 overcomes the force of weak spring 62. Valve head 34 engages its valve seat. In FIG. 4 air is still entering through air vent tube 18. However, in FIG. 5, with the closing of valve head 34 on its valve seat, water in tank 14 rises rapidly. The check 'ball 22 floats up and engages its seat 20. Further air is prevented from entering the tank. In FIG. 6, the water has continued to rise. Air 64 is compressed upwards by the force of the rising water.

In FIG. 7, cord 54 is pulled up. Valve head 34 rises from its seat. The compressed air 64 forces the contents of the tank out as a slug of water which will sweep everything in its path. Piston valve 44 is also raised against the force of the spring 48 by pulling on cord 54. The position of spring 62 can be adjusted by turning nut 60 so as to control the water level necessary to force valve head 34 downwards.

Following the flushing of the toilet bowl and the release of the handle 58, the valve head 34 will descend by the action of spring 48 and in order to maintain a necessary quantity of clean residual Water in the bowl, the valve head 34 will be prevented from seating on seat 32 by a small distance corresponding with the adjustment of collar weak spring 62.

Thus, as the incoming pressurized water is fed to the tank through filler tube 16, a predetermined small portion of the water will flow through aperture 29 and around the valve head 34 and past the seat 32 into the bowl. This action will continue for a period determined by the adjustment of nut 60 on stem 38. Since the check valve 22 is automatically opened when the tank is emptied, it will remain open while the bowl is being filled.

Since the inlet flow of pressurized water is much greater than the small outlet flow, the water will rise in the tank and create sufficient pressure to close valve head 34 against the seat 32 against the restraining action of spring 48 and later close the check valve 22, permitting water to flow into the tank and compress the air thereabove and fill the tank to a level required for a subsequent flushing operation. Unwanted air is prevented from entering the tank by rolling diaphragm 47.

What is claimed is:

1. A hydraulic assembly for filling and rapidly discharging a liquid from a tank, comprising in combination:

(a) a hermetically sealed tank;

(b) a chute having an open lower end and a closed upper end, vertically positioned in relation to said tank, said chute having an aperture in the side wall thereof opening into the lower portion of said tank to provide a water passage to said open lower end thereof;

(c) a valve seat extending around the inner periphery of said chute positioned below said aperture;

((1) a valve head with a coaxial upstanding stem slidably positioned in said chute for vertical movement of said head from an open position above said aperture to a closed position with said head in sealed engagement with said seat;

(e) a rolling diaphragm on said valve stem in said chute for movement from a downward position above said aperture to a predetermined upper position;

(f) lifting means operatively associated with said stem for moving said valve head from said closed to said open position;

(g) spring means, normally resisting upward movement of the valve head when the valve head is seated, disposed above said rolling diaphragm around said stem;

(h) an air vent and check valve in said tank, sealed through said tank, said check valve moving to a closed position only when liquid in said tank rises to a predetermined level therein; and,

(i) an inlet conduit sealed through said tank to supply said tank with pressurized liquid, whereby, operation of said lifting means will open said valve head, forcing said liquid to flow through said aperture and outwards from said chute, the flow thereof being augmented by compressed air pressure acting to rapidly force said liquid through said aperture and out of said chute.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, including an outer platform on said sealed tank, said chute closed end passing therethrough, an outward section on said stem extending outward of said platform, and biasing means between said stem outward section and said platform holding said valve head a predetermined small distance from said seat whereby the release of said manual means will permit a predetermined small portion of the incom ing pressurized water from said inlet conduit means to continue to flow from said cap into said bowl to a predetermined residual height until the pressure in said tank is sufiiciently high to overcome the tension of said biasing means and permit said valve head to engage said valve seat.

3. The assembly claimed in claim 2, said air vent and check valve means comprising a tube sealed in the upper portion of said tank extending downward therein having a valve seat in the lower end thereof and a check valve below said valve seat whereby atmospheric air will be admitted to the tank when said water is discharged therefrom and the rising level of the incoming water will lift said check valve against said seat when said tank is filled to a predetermined height.

4. A hydraulic assembly as claimed in claim 2, said tank being of rectangular box-like configuration with a rectangular box portion removed therefrom defining said platform, said lifting means being mechanical means mounted on said platform and coupled to said stem, said arrangement providing a readily shippable compact assembly without protruding parts.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,026,535 3/ 1962 Langdon 4-28 3,344,439 10/1967 Davies 4-40 3,362,030 1/ 1968 McKinstry 427 3,392,407 7/1968 Booth 4-40X 3,431,564 3/1969 Davies 4-40 HENRY K. ARTIS, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

